Female psychiatrists' career development after flexible training

Abstract

Aims and MethodThe project gathered data from a cohort of 300 flexibly trained female consultants in psychiatry in order to understand how their careers had progressed since the completion of their training. A postal questionnaire was used to gather this information.ResultsThese consultants were generally satisfied with their training, and were succeeding in pursuing their careers. Flexible training was developed to enable people with family commitments to train in psychiatry, and this is what it is being used for.Clinical ImplicationsFlexible training is an important avenue for an increasing number of psychiatrists to continue in their profession. With the current shortfall in consultant numbers, flexible training should be maintained and developed, and should be seen as a useful route to a consultant position.

Part-time working in psychiatry in Northern Ireland

“…Current job provision suggests that not all trainees will achieve this desired outcome and it is possible some will change their view on this as they approach the end of their training. A study of 300 female psychiatrists who had been flexible trainees (Mears et al, 2004) reported that less than a half (43%) had moved into full-time posts, with 73% reporting they had achieved their first choice of working pattern.…”